New York Body Shop Owner Wins LKQ Calendar Contest

Guy Sisson, owner of Sisson’s Body Works in Delevan, NY, spent two years restoring a 1937 Packard Club Sedan for his daughter’s 2010 wedding. Recently, he entered the car in the LKQ Triplett annual calendar contest. With over 300 entries, Sisson’s car made the top 13 finalists and was assured a spot in the calendar. On Sept. 4, Sisson was notified that his car was picked as the Grand Prize winner to be featured on the calendar cover. The grand prize includes an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas to be recognized at the SEMA show.

The story about Guy Sisson and his 1937 Packard began 25 years ago. A local farmer had bought it from an old farm auction where the vintage car had been stored in a barn. The farmer took it home, tore it apart and quickly realized it was much more than he could handle.

“I have always had a fascination with the 1930s era,” Sisson said. “I heard about the car and ended up buying it from the farmer. When I first bought the car my daughter was only 5 years old, and she has always been equally interested in vintage things. I told her that someday we would restore the old Packard for her wedding. Well, the car was put on the back burner, and life went on.”

In 2008, Sisson could no longer ignore the Packard waiting for his attention.

“My future son-in-law came to me and said he was going to ask Ashley to marry him and wanted my permission (very unusual these days). He also knew the plans for the car and knew that I would need some time to restore it. I started on the car immediately. We worked on it daily for two years and still wondered if we would make it,” Sisson said. One week before the wedding, on Sept. 4th, 2010, the car was finished.

“It was a wonderful day,” says the proud father of the bride. “Next to the bride, it was the star of the day. The wedding was a complete 1930s theme. My wife and I were in heaven.”

Sisson said it wasn’t until he started restoring the car that he realized how rare the car actually was.

“Packard was one of America’s premier luxury cars at this time and they only made 2,489 of this model,” he said. “This car is one of only seven known to survive today. We use the car regularly on weekends, going out to dinner and to car shows. The car represents a very unique time in America’s history. Everyone that sees it seems to go back in time. I did most of the work myself, however I still owe many thanks to my employees at Sisson’s Body Works and my father and son for their help.”